9.  It behooved him to keep on good terms with his pupils.

10.  Biscuit is about the best thing I know; but it is the soonest spoiled; and one would like to hear counsel on one point, why it is that a touch of water utterly ruins it.

INTERROGATIVE PRONOUNS.

[Sidenote:  Three now in use.]

97.  The interrogative pronouns now in use are who (with the forms whose and whom), which, and what.

[Sidenote:  One obsolete.]

There is an old word, whether, used formerly to mean which of two, but now obsolete.  Examples from the Bible:—­

     Whether of them twain did the will of his father?

     Whether is greater, the gold, or the temple?

From Steele (eighteenth century):—­

     It may be a question whether of these unfortunate persons had
     the greater soul.

[Sidenote:  Use of who and its forms.]

98.  The use of who, with its possessive and objective, is seen in these sentences:—­

     Who is she in bloody coronation robes from Rheims?—­DE QUINCEY.

     Whose was that gentle voice, that, whispering sweet,
     Promised, methought, long days of bliss sincere?—­BOWLES.

     What doth she look on? Whom doth she behold?—­WORDSWORTH.

From these sentences it will be seen that interrogative who refers to persons only; that it is not inflected for gender or number, but for case alone, having three forms; it is always third person, as it always asks about somebody.

[Sidenote:  Use of which.]

99.  Examples of the use of interrogative which:—­

     Which of these had speed enough to sweep between the question
     and the answer, and divide the one from the other?—­DE QUINCEY.

     Which of you, shall we say, doth love us most?—­SHAKESPEARE.

     Which of them [the sisters] shall I take?—­Id.

As shown here, which is not inflected for gender, number, or case; it refers to either persons or things; it is selective, that is, picks out one or more from a number of known persons or objects.

[Sidenote:  Use of what.]

100.  Sentences showing the use of interrogative what:—­

     Since I from Smaylho’me tower have been,
     What did thy lady do?—­SCOTT.

     What is so rare as a day in June?—­LOWELL.

     What wouldst thou do, old man?—­SHAKESPEARE.

These show that what is not inflected for case; that it is always singular and neuter, referring to things, ideas, actions, etc., not to persons.

DECLENSION OF INTERROGATIVE PRONOUNS.